Cambodia's visitor arrivals expand

Cambodia’s statistics and tourism information department released its latest tourism statistics report for July showing tourist arrivals growing 18.4% year-on-year with an average 14.1%  increase over the seven-month period last year.

According to the official data, Cambodia received 239,527 international visitors in July representing an increase of 18.4% from 202,349 in July 2010. The accumulated tourists from January to July reached 1,624,556, up 14.1% over the same period last year.

In July, 116,342 or 48.6% of international tourists arrived by air: 24.8% (59,467) via Siem Reap, the country’s prime tourist destination and 23.7% (56,875) through the capital city Phnom Penh.

Meanwhile, 48.6% (116,376) of visitors travelled overland through immigration check points bordering Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, reflecting a robust trend in visits from neighbouring countries.

Tourists from these three neighbouring countries accounted for 33.85% (81,073) overall. Vietnam was the top supplier— 61,027, representing a healthy growth of 26.5%.

Visits from Thailand dropped sharply this year. In July, there were only 7,700 Thai tourists to Cambodia a decline of 41.8%. Visits were lower than from Laos, which generated 12,346, up 44.4%.

Korea and China were second (26,212) and third (22,241) showing a substantial improvement of 17.6% and 55.5% respectively. The influx of Chinese tourists was chiefly due to summer holiday travel.

Despite the current small numbers, arrivals from Eastern Europe skyrocketed 74.4% emerging as a potentially strong market for the future. Russia posted a 97.6% growth over July 2010, contributing 2,502 visits.

Arrivals from Czech Republic (+84.3%, 164), Hungary (+72.9%,121), Ukraine (+60.4%, 154) and Romania (+47.5%, 59) were all strong.

Several markets apart from Thailand reported declines, but not big suppliers –six in Europe and five in Asia. They include Switzerland (-14%, 1,057); Netherlands (-8.4%, 2,280); Luxembourg (-11.8%, 30); Belgium (-0.1%, 1,662); Austria (-2.8%, 522); Poland (-3.5%, 332); Pakistan (-33.6%, 79); Bangladesh (-54.1%, 100); Mongolia (-67.7%, 20); Hong Kong (-9.6%, 403) and Brunei (-49%, 51).

Source - ttrweekly